The Diary of a Mad Stay-at-Home-Mom

If you're looking for one of those touchy feely entries that I've been known to spew on occasion, you've come to the wrong post. A 'significant' (that's the word the meteorologists have used) winter storm overtook our community last Tuesday dumping between 16" and 20" of snow on our city that used to consider 4" to be a large amount of snow, making road travel treacherous if not impossible for days. Tomorrow will make 7 days that neither I nor my children have left the house, with the exception of some time outside to have some winter frostbite...I mean fun. They have called school off AGAIN tomorrow (making it a week since my angels had any formal education) and we are expecting another 'significant' storm on Wednesday. My husband has ventured out twice and done okay but because I'm responsible for more than just MY children, I didn't feel confident putting the kids on the road. How can I look Giggles and Taz's mom in the eye if we slip into a ditch because I simply couldn't stand to be in the house any longer? My middle son's teacher sent us an email and in it she had a simple reminder that cabin fever affects people of all ages, meaning of course to be patient with my child as he is likely feeling the same things we (the adults) are. So I thought I'd log my thoughts so that M could compare at a later date and so the rest of you could laugh to yourselves at my slow slip into madness.

Day One (Tuesday):

I am SOOO excited. The kids don't have school today and my husband doesn't have to go to work. It started sleeting and then snowing last night and just didn't stop. The meteorologists are saying we could get like 9" - that's INSANE. I can't wait to let the children go outside and build a snowman. What a treat to be able to have my whole family off in the middle of the week!

Day Two (Wednesday):

Well, obviously no school again today. We actually wound up getting between 16 and 20" of snow and we had drifts in our yard about 4 feet tall. I haven't seen this much snow since I lived in Europe. I wish it was a little warmer as the kids are BEGGING to build that snowman but it was SIX BELOW ZERO this morning. I've decided to organize and clean the whole house today - I mean, why not take advantage of having a second person home to help watch the kids. Think of the productivity!

Day Three (Thursday):

The kids are starting to get restless and frankly, so am I. I'm feeling like I MAY have underestimated how long we'd be in the house. Time to bust out the Uno and SkipBo games along with EVERY art and craft activity under our roof. Is it just me or are the kids voices getting louder? I'm thinking mandatory nap time for everyone is in order. After all, it must be exhausting to be in the playroom for so long - it's for their own good. I'm almost done reorganizing the house and I'm kind of wondering what I'm going to do next. I sure hope the kids are back in school tomorrow, they would love to see their friends.

Day Four (Friday):

No school again and I'm starting to feel what they call 'cabin fever.' I never noticed how loudly my whole family breathes (don't they have working nostrils?). The baby screams every time I walk out of her sight. At first, I found it adorable that she is so attached, but now I'm wondering where I put the ear plugs the last time I used them.

Day Five (Saturday):

I'm wondering why we don't have school on Saturday. I mean, with as behind as America is in world education, why are we letting two whole days EVERY week go to waste by having our children stay at home...I'm thinking I'll write my Congressman. Eric was able to get out to the grocery store today. I was relieved that we were able to get some things that we needed but so insanely jealous that he got to leave at the same time. I mean, I feel like I drive just as well as he does, right? I'm passing the time today playing referee for my children and looking at deals online. I'm so happy about getting to go to church and a Superbowl party tomorrow that I could just scream.

Day Six (Sunday):

Well, no church today, the equipment broke down and left them with no way to clear the parking lot. The kids are eager to have a chance to build a bigger snowman today than the one they built yesterday but I'm feeling like it's all I can do to want to get up and shower today, let alone go out and build more snowmen. They just called off school for tomorrow! What? What idiot is out there making these decisions? I got an email from my middle son's teacher again (that witch really emails us way too often) saying that the snow at his school was up to her knees yesterday. Clearly she is ridiculously short. Besides, who isn't willing to walk their child through knee deep snow to get to school? Honestly, the lack of dedication demonstrated by parents these days is deplorable. If you'll excuse me, it's Superbowl Sunday and I have plans - no wait, no, I don't - they were cancelled due to the weather and road conditions. I WILL be getting out of this house tomorrow if I have to fake appendicitis in order to do it (my stomach IS hurting a little).......

Well, as you can see, we're all lollipops and sunshine over here. There is nothing I love better than being in a house with 7 people for a week with no safe way to leave. I've been reading facebook post after facebook post from my friends that are just 'enjoying the family time,' and 'not getting cabin fever at all,' and to that I say, you either have more liquor than we do or less children - or both. 'Till next time - I promise I will NEVER complain about global warming again.....